Iowa

Webster

36,999
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Webster

Webster, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2,504. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,999.

Its recorded population peaked at 48,391 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 24 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Fort Dodge Area Defense — Iowa Frontier 1862, and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,999
201038,013
200040,235
199040,342
198045,953
197048,391
196047,810
195044,241
194041,521
193040,425
192037,611
191034,629
190031,757
189021,582
188015,951
187010,484
18602,504
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Webster

Military engagements that took place in Webster, Iowa.

Fort Dodge Area Defense — Iowa Frontier 1862
1862

Historic places in Webster

National Register of Historic Places listings in Webster, Iowa.

Coffin, Lorenzo S., Burial Plot
Fort Dodge
Oak Hill Historic District
Fort Dodge
Vincent House
Fort Dodge
Oakland Cemetery
Fort Dodge
Corpus Christi Church
Fort Dodge
Webster County Courthouse
Fort Dodge
Oleson Park Music Pavilion
Fort Dodge
Wahkonsa Hotel
Fort Dodge
First National Bank Building
Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge Downtown Historic District
Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge Junior High School
Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge Senior High School
Fort Dodge
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Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Webster County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Webster County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Webster

When does Webster first appear in the US census?
Webster, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2,504.
What is the population of Webster?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Webster had a recorded population of 36,999.
When did Webster's population peak?
Webster's recorded population peaked at 48,391 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Webster?
1 documented military engagement took place in Webster, including Fort Dodge Area Defense — Iowa Frontier 1862.
How many historic places are in Webster?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Webster, Iowa.
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